Posted on 12/24/2007 2:12:00 PM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
Now that it's already set a dubious standard for high-fashion knockoffs, China is busy extending its sincerest form of flattery to cars.
Depending on where they live in the world, consumers can get a clone of a BMW X5 for about $38,000, to perfectly complement, say, a nicely counterfeited Rolex and a faux Armani suit. The entire ensemble of watch, suit and vehicle would cost under $40,000, compared to $52,000 for the real items, including about $46,000 for the Beemer.
In the Orient, sports car lovers can snag a Chinese "Ferrari" for about $10,000 to $30,000, not the normal $120,000 to $150,000, presuming they aren't too finicky about its provenance.
Chinese car knock-offs haven't really made inroads in the United States yet, although the U.S. industry has lost billions due to counterfeit car parts in North America and globally. But vehicle look-alikes are invading Europe.
Some clones are already for sale, and plans are underway to introduce more of them by spring. Two vehicles alleged to be shameless copies touched a raw nerve at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
The UFO from Jonway Automobiles seems to have the RAV4's unmistakably muscular lines. Powered by a Mitsubishi engine and packed with amenities, the UFO costs $22,600, instead of the RAV4's $37,000 price tag in Europe.
In a jarring improvisation, Shuanghuan Auto's CEO SUV mimics the front of a Mercedes SUV and the sides and rear of a BMW X5, according to some observers. At the low end of the market, the Bubble, also from Shuanghuan, and the Peri city car from Great Wall Motor have allegedly plagiarized Daimler's Smart Fortwo and Fiat's Panda.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.aol.com ...
The cars are Knock offs for sure ... they all run on leaded gas!
Gee, making crap by copying crap....
And, imagine, there are still a number of people who want to continue free trade w Commie China....
Lead, slave labor, ripoffs, copyright infringement, crappy products.....the results of FT w Commie China
Copying. The same thing that Japan did.
“ What do you mean, Doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan.”
Lets see how they handle the idiotic 35mpg requirement that the Congress put on future cars. US Automakers will be out of business unless someone invents a heck of a long extension cord and a way to keep them all from getting tangled. Maybe the Chinese can come up with one.
I’d be surprised if they were NOT copies.
Gee. Automakers copying other automakers? Whodathunkit?
Duh, they copy everything.
Crash test of a Chinese Chery-brand car:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kQGAK550LE
Ah yes, the Utopia Known as Communist China.
No regard for anything— people, the environment, consumers, peace, daughters, safety, honesty, patents/property rights of any kind.
Sure wish our liberals would emigrate there. They’d fit right in as well as “diversify” the populations.
Gee, what are they waiting for?
Bingo! - So would I.
And, given my first hand experience with the state of Chinese metallurgy, I would also be surprised if things didn’t break apart on them within a very short time.
Little things, like motors, transmissions, and axles.
ping
Would that car ever be allowed in the US?
They forgot the ejector seat.
See my post #11
Nothing new. When toyota built the inline six for the landcruiser they so closely copied the chevrolet inline six that you could use the chevy head gasket on the toyota.
Looks like it’s made out of aluminum foil.
Yes, approximately 99% of the planet.
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